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Anthony Joshua touring US gyms and links up with Canelo Alvarez amid calls to sack boxing coach

ANTHONY JOSHUA added Canelo Alvarez’s gym to his visited list while on a holiday in America.

The former heavyweight champion is enjoying some down time Stateside after his recent defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in September.

Canelo Alvarez’s sparring partner Rashidi Ellis with Anthony Joshua
Canelo Alvarez, promoter Eddie Hearn and trainer Eddy Reynoso

And he was pictured linking up with Canelo in the Mexican’s adopted US training base in San Diego where he resides with cornerman and manager Eddy Reynoso.

Their promoter Eddie Hearn was also present with the four-division champion, 31, preparing to fight Caleb Plant, 29, on November 6.

AJ also paid a trip to see Joshua Buatsi – who he manages – at the light-heavyweight’s camp with Virgil Hunter in Los Angeles.

Following Joshua’s 12 round decision loss to Usyk, 34, he faced calls to replace his training team.

But those same doubts were raised when he lost to Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019, before brilliantly winning the rematch six months later.

His loyalty was rewarded when he reclaimed the WBA, IBF and WBO belts after smartly switching tactics to outbox Ruiz, 32.

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And there is no suggestion Joshua, 32, will part ways with trusted coach Rob McCracken, who had twice led him to unified titles as well as Olympic gold.

But AJ did bring in two additional trainers in Angel Fernandez and Joby Clayton before avenging defeat to Ruiz.

Gaining some knowledge from coaches in America can only be a good thing before Joshua prepares to fight Usyk once more.

He has officially invoked his right to an immediate rematch, Hearn confirmed, with a target date of March or April.

And the promoter did not rule out new faces in the training team in order to become the first to figure out the Usyk puzzle, who is unbeaten in 19 fights.

Hearn told Boxing Social: “I think what AJ will wanna do is analyse why he performed like that.

“Yeah, the tactics weren’t right, he underperformed, but why?

“It’s difficult just to say, ‘He didn’t get the tactics right and he underperformed,’ because let’s talk about the brilliance of Usyk as well.

“But AJ will always look at his preparation and see how he can improve.

“If that’s changing things up, looking at bringing people in, or whatever he’s got to do, he will do that.”

Boxing trainer Rob McCracken and Anthony Joshua